Winfield ? The Cowley County Commission has agreed to ask for a feasibility study of a proposed 8,000-acre lake and recreation area.

Commissioners decided Wednesday to request that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study the project, which would be at Grouse Creek, south of Dexter.

County administrator Jay Newton said the study would be paid for by the corps and would include the need for water and recreation as well as the impact on the local economy.

The project was proposed by two Wichita businessmen who have estimated the cost of the lake and infrastructure at between $150 million and $400 million. They predicted another $100 million to $200 million in homes and commercial development could occur during the first few years of the project.

Chairwoman Margie Berrie suggested the commission send a letter to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius stating its opposition to the project, but commissioners reached no agreement on her suggestion.

Berrie has said that farmers and ranchers were concerned that someone would take away their land. The lake would also take thousands of acres of farm and ranch land off property tax rolls.

Commissioner Dick Bonfy said he wanted to see the results of a study before he decided whether to support the project.

The reservoir also could provide drinking water and cheaper electricity for Wichita, but it would face many hurdles, including approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the corps and six state agencies.

Developers would also need to determine whether there was enough water in the creek to fill a reservoir the size of El Dorado Lake or Cheney Reservoir.

Another hurdle would be to assure Oklahoma that it would still get its share of the water in the Arkansas River, as promised by an interstate compact. Grouse Creek flows into the Arkansas River near the Oklahoma state line.

Grouse Creek also is home to several species of mussels protected under state law and is popular with canoeists who make float trips to watch bald eagles.